You are mistaken in regards to the country being founded on the freedom of religion outside of Christianity. You might want to go back to some original documents in studying the issue.
In any event, national governance is for believer and unbeliever alike. There is nothing wrong with those considering who to vote for to consider the beliefs of the candidates.
Quite the opposite, attempts to prevent voters from considering their exercise of religion goes against the first amendment of the Constitution. Nothing here prevents Romney from exercising his freedom, but rejection of others in their consideration of it inhibits their exercise thereof.
~”Quite the opposite, attempts to prevent voters from considering their exercise of religion goes against the first amendment of the Constitution. Nothing here prevents Romney from exercising his freedom, but rejection of others in their consideration of it inhibits their exercise thereof.”~
Quite so. Bigotry is constitutionally protected, as is its condemnation.
“You are mistaken in regards to the country being founded on the freedom of religion outside of Christianity.”
Let’s let a couple of the founders’ quotes speak for themselves:
From the dissensions among Sects themselves arise necessarily a right of choosing and necessity of deliberating to which we will conform. But if we choose for ourselves, we must allow others to choose also, and so reciprocally, this establishes religious liberty.” —Thomas Jefferson: Notes on Religion, 1776
“I never will, by any word or act, bow to the shrine of intolerance or admit a right of inquiry into the religious opinions of others.” —Thomas Jefferson to Edward Dowse, 1803.
“[N]o man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry whatsoever, nor shall be enforced, restrained, molested, or burthened in his body or goods, nor shall otherwise suffer, on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities.” (Thomas Jefferson)
“As to religion, I hold it to be the indispensable duty of all government, to protect all conscientious professors thereof, and I know of no other business which government hath to do therewith…” (Thomas Paine, “Common Sense,” 1776)
Those are just a few quotes, in addition to the Constitution.